Maina Operated His Bank Account Through Sms, Email, EFCC Tells Court

A Federal High Court in Abuja heard yesterday how huge sums belonging to pensioners were allegedly diverted by former Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) Stephen Oronsaye and former Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina through phoney contracts.

The wanted former chairman of Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms was said to have collaborated with a former Head of Service of the Federation Stephen Oronsaye in carrying out the act.

The EFCC official, Rouqayya Ibrahim, told the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, that Maina ran a bank account using SMS and sending E-mails.

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An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rouqayya Ibrahim ,said pension funds were allegedly diverted by the duo through various companies.

Oronsaye, the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe and the company are facing a 24-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.

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The prosecution alleged that the fraud, involving about N2 billion, was allegedly perpetrated using firms like Cluster Logistic Limited, Kongolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited, and Xangee Technologies Limited.

“We analysed the mandate, obtained necessary information like bank account numbers, and then requested for the account statements from the banks,” Rouqayya said.

She made a revelation that the analysis revealed a company, Xangee Technologies Limited, which she noted, was already being tried before Justice Abubakar Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gudu, for alleged pension fraud.

The witness said: “We discovered that the company received payment of more than N183 million for biometric enrolment, but there was no biometric contract executed by the company, instead the money was withdrawn, converted to US dollars and handed over to Abdulrasheed Maina, through his brother, Khalid Biu.”

Justice Kolawole adjourned till December 5, for continuation of the judicial trial.